Yes, it's beach weather! Granted, it only lasted for a couple of days before another cold front moved in, but we'll take what we can get. As is always the case when the weather warms up, the beaches were packed. Lake Superior still seems pretty chilly. If I am reading this chart right, it's only 57 degrees on the surface of the lake at McCarty's Cove. No wonder there aren't more people in the water in these photos.

NMU Board sets tuition

The NMU Board of Trustees approved a tuition and fees schedule for 2008-09 at its July 18 meeting. Full-time resident undergraduates will pay $7,078, an increase of $185 per semester. Full-time non-resident undergraduates will pay $11,230, or $293 more per semester.
NMU administrators presented four models for the board’s consideration, with increases ranging from 4.5 to 6.4 percent. They were developed around an anticipated 1 percent state appropriation increase and a projected 1 percent enrollment decrease. Each model showed varying impacts the specific rate would have on required cost savings or reallocations and the ability to invest in the university’s strategic “Road Map to 2015” initiatives.
Gavin Leach, Vice President for Finance and Administration, told the board that the approved 5.5 percent increase model would require $1.8 million in cost savings and reallocations. It also would result in “significant” reductions in planned Road Map investments—$870,000 compared with the $1.2 million in the model with the highest-percentage tuition increase.

The other public universities in Michigan that have set tuition, increases ranging from 3.7 percent at Saginaw Valley State to 13 percent at Grand Valley State. Northern has the second-lowest percentage and dollar increase and will maintain its rank as the second-most affordable institution in the state. The full tuition and fees schedule is available here.

Faculty 'brats' host reunion

Many of them have names that would be familiar to former students: Halverson, Money, Roberts, Gant. They are the children of former NMU faculty members and for the past 15 years, they've been getting together annually in Marquette. And yes, they gave themselves the name "brats."
They have a unique bond because most grew up in the same neighborhood when their fathers were teaching at Northern. Many lived on the 600 block of College Avenue which used to be known as "faculty row" because of the large number of NMU families with homes on the street.
In the '20s and '30s, the children all attended the J.D. Pierce training school on campus.
After receiving degrees at Northern, most of the "brats" went on to careers around the country.
In 1993, Jo Hurst Schils '47 and Jonelle Anderson Collins '70 decided to try and get the group together. In addition to those who lived in the 600 block, they invited just about all the faculty "brats" they could identify. That first reunion was a hit with plenty of great memories being shared. They've been doing it ever since.

Dakota House boys got together in Marquette July 11-12. The men all lived in Dakota House in Halverson Hall while they were students at Northern. In 1999, the group initiated the Dakota House Scholarship. Recipients of Dakota House Scholarships must be Dakota House residents of sophomore status who are positively contributing to the Dakota House community.

A Wildcat Football Reunion took place in Appleton, Wis., July 18-20. Hank Sweeney '90 hosted the event.

NMU Alumni Association members are invited to board the Keweenaw Star for a special member appreciation cruise. This exclusive event takes place Thursday, Aug. 21 in Marquette.
Explore Marquette's harbor and coastline aboard the Star. Featuring a narrated tour by maritime historian Fred Stonehouse '70, '77, the two-hour cruise leaves promptly at 6:30 p.m. from the lower harbor park. This fun event takes place during the International Seafood Fest and NMU's Welcome Week.

$10 per person
Must be an Alumni Association member to purchase tickets. Limit two tickets per member. First-come, first-served.If you are not a member and would like to take the cruise, join today.

1-877-GRAD NMU or 906-227-26120

California playwright wins NMU national competition

Neil McGowan, a California playwright, has won the 2008 Mildred and Albert Panowski Playwriting Award at Northern Michigan University. Tracks in the Snow, McGowan's terse drama and coming-of-age love story, was selected from almost 400 entries from the United States and abroad.
He will receive a $2,000 stipend and see his play presented in November on the Forest Roberts Theatre stage as the second production of the Brave New World theatre season at NMU.
McGowan will be in Marquette in November a week prior to production and will serve as "artist-in-residence." He will work with the director and cast and meet with various theatre, english and communications classes.Tracks in the Snow runs Nov. 12-15.
This marks the thirty-second competition for the Mildred and Albert Panowski Playwriting Award.

The most popular tourist attraction in town...the 6th floor of Cohodas

What a fun week it was on the 6th floor of Cohodas. We had numerous visitors, probably the most ever, and they all had great stories to share about their time on campus-whether it was five years ago or 35 years ago.

Thanks for stopping by...

...Stu Boland '71 of Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

A lifetime member of the NMU Alumni Association, Stu had not been back on campus since he left in 1971. Wow!
As part of a cross-country motorcycle trip, Stu stopped in Marquette to check out the town and catch up with long, lost friends.

So far this summer, the Alumnus Who Has Traveled Furthest Award goes to Jon Bahk-Halberg '87.
A new member of the NMU Alumni Association, Jon and his son, Choroek, were visiting from Seoul, Korea.

Coming in second in the Traveled Furthest contest...lifetime member Margaret Sell Vainio '76 of Pylkönmäki, Finland (far right).

Margaret was visiting the U.S. to attend Finn Fest '08 in Duluth, Minn. She stopped by the 6th floor with her sisters, Carol Sell Curtis '66, Champaign, Ill., and Connie Sell Kerkove '73, Ironwood, Mich., who are both alumni, and her niece, Barbara Kerkove, a current student at NMU.

...Sue Kossel Scott '71, Alumni Association member (far right) stopped by with girlfriends who were in town visiting. From left, Katie Canale Ryan '73 and Joy Bararetto O'Flaherty '71. The women all belonged to Alpha Xi Delta while at Northern.

...Alumni Association members Ray and Jean '62 Anderson of San Jose, Calif.

...Laura Mitchell '93, of Grand Haven, Mich., who joined the Alumni Association when she stopped by.

If you are visiting Marquette, make sure you stop by and say hello. We're on the 6th floor of Cohodas Hall. We'd love to talk with you.

Fun sites we think you might enjoy

We bet there's a lot on the NMU Web site that you might not be aware of. So we're going to start showing you some of the more interesting links.

Did you know parents of students have their own NMU Web site? Parents of current students and parents of prospective students can find a wealth of information on this site. Everything from important academic calendar dates to Family Weekend activities. They even have their own newsletter.

"I just thought you should all know how fortunate you are to be up in wonderful Marquette. I was reading CNN Money today regarding the gas crisis and not surprised to see how great it is to live in Marquette and travel from place to place without having to use a car. I loved it when I was at NMU to be able to use my bike all summer to get anywhere I needed to go. Trust me, from dealing with Miami traffic, I now see how truly special Marquette and NMU are."
Amanda Jayska '03, '05
Miami, Flaajayska@miamidade.gov

"I'm writing from my home in Shelbyville, Tennessee to let all my former Wildcat friends and teammates, especially all the old Barracks Boys know that I will be competing in the Tennessee State Senior Olympics on July 19th. I will be competing in the discus, shotput and the javelin. Since I am probably the eldest of all the old Barracks Boys I will be competing in the 80-84 age bracket. My how time does fly. My intentions are to qualify in all three events and to participate in the National Senior Olympics to be held in San Francisco in 2009. Incidentally, the Barracks Boys will be having a reunion on the weekend of the televised Northern vs Mich.Tech game. I'm extremely disappointed that I will be unable to attend. But I'm certain they will be well entertained, as well as entertaining, while on campus. If possible, would be so kind as to publish this on your next "Whats New at NMU" ? I so look forward to getting my e-mail from you guys each week."
Corey "Rebel" Hartbarger '56
Shelbyville, Tenn.coryhart27@yahoo.com

Note from the Editor: Congratulations to Cory who took four gold medals in competition: discus, shot put, javelin and softball throw.